by Delia Castel
With one, final thrust, all that pent up pressure expanded in a wave of pleasure that rocked her body. It scattered like wildfire, from her core to every extremity, in delicious, little shudders. Spasm upon spasm rocked her core, squeezing Matheson’s length, which kept up the steady pace. The rolling of his hips only heightened her orgasm, pushing it to the cusp of pleasure and pain.
“Ah…” Matheson’s eyes widened. “That’s—” He threw his head back and roared.
Wings flapped somewhere in the distance. She would have felt guilty for startling the griffins again, but the climax was still making her body quiver with sensations that showed no sign of ebbing. Perhaps it was the magic of the King’s Blessing. It seemed to bind them together and completing their bond, because she had never felt such intense, lingering pleasure with the other two brothers.
“I knew,” he murmured.
“Huh?”
“I knew you would be the best fuck of my life.”
“Do you have to be so…” She panted. “Vulgar after what we shared?”
He kissed her temple. “Actually, I do.”
She snorted. “We made love, silly.”
He stilled. “Then it was my first time.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Oh, I’ve fucked in the past,” he replied. She rolled her eyes, too much of a puddle to retort. “But this is the first time I’ve made love with anyone.”
Warmth spread across her chest, making her smile. “Do you think we’ve bonded?”
“There’s only one way to find out. Get on top of me.” He moved off her and lay on his front.
Marigold shrugged and climbed on his back, resting her head on the crook of his neck. Seconds later, he transformed into a dragon, about the same size of Polaris, with jade-green scales. Triumph filled her heart. It had worked!
He shifted back and rolled her over, his eyes gleaming. Then his face froze. “What?”
Marigold’s eyes widened at his stunned expression. “What’s wrong?”
“The curse… My pain has gone!” He stared into the palm of his hand, opening and closing his fist. He turned to her, eyes softening, and lowered his head for a kiss. “I can’t thank you enough, my Princess. The specialists told me that all traces of the curse would vanish upon my first transformation, but I didn’t believe them… until now.”
She swallowed, not knowing what to say, because any she-dragon could have broken his curse or it would have faded away when he became old enough to shift into a dragon. Not wanting to take credit for something that would have happened anyway, she murmured, “I’m glad it’s gone.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Shall we embark on our heist, my Princess?”
Marigold beamed. “Do we need anything?”
“Buckley has a set of tools in the stables. I’ll use my dragon strength to push holes in walls or doors to reach Berrin.”
Nodding, she picked up her breeches and eased them on. When she finished, Matheson rolled his own clothing into a ball and handed it to her. She clutched it to her chest and climbed onto his back. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a magnificent, green dragon, launched himself off the top of the roof, and swooped down to the gravel courtyard in front of the stable block.
Polaris stepped out from one of the doors, clad in his uniform, and flanked by Nanny and Buckley. His brows rose. “Where do you think you’re going with Marigold?”
Chapter 15
Matheson transformed and stepped forward, ignoring the bite of the jagged gravel on the soles of his feet. From the fury burning in his brother’s eyes, it looked like Polaris suspected him of luring Marigold into another of Uncle Hertz’ traps. Balling his fists, he met his brother squarely in the eye.
Now that he had the strength of a dragon, he would not let his brothers intimidate him with their superior strengths or physiques. Let them try accusing him of malice, now!
Polaris broke away from Nanny, who stood by the stable doors, her face white. He stalked towards them, nostrils flared. “I ask again, brother… where are you taking Marigold?”
“Your uncle is going to have Berrin killed tonight!” she rushed toward him and placed her palms on his chest. “We’re going to rescue him.”
Nanny clapped her hands to her mouth. Polaris stiffened. Matheson swallowed. This was going to be a difficult situation for his brother. His vows to serve the King would be in conflict with his desire to save Berrin. Breaking into the Tower of Torment, a place that held traitors, spies, and those who committed crimes against the King, was a form of treason in itself. In a rush of words, Marigold told Polaris what she had witnessed earlier when she had visited Berrin in another cell.
Matheson stepped forward. “We didn’t want to involve you, because there will be harsher penalties for you, given your position at the Regiment.”
Polaris raised his gaze from Marigold to Matheson, his eyes cold, mouth curle with disdain. Matheson flinched but met his glare. After a few uncomfortable moments, Polaris’ lip curled. “You would think me so weak that I would leave my brother to be slaughtered?”
Worms of discomfort writhed within Matheson’s stomach, and his gaze dropped to the gold epaulette on Polaris’ shoulder. He folded his arms over his abdomen. “How was I to know you could circumvent your vows?”
“And you saw fit to bring Marigold to what could possibly be a suicide mission?”
“You can’t expect me to sit by when Berrin’s under threat!” She wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head on his chest. “I’d do anything to save any of you.”
His eyes softened, and he stroked the side of her cheek. Matheson’s stomach unknotted. It seemed that Marigold’s presence had unwound the rigid General. Polaris wrapped his arms around her shoulders, inhaling her golden curls. “Very well. We will leave now. But only after we have taken you to Dr. Squamatus for safekeeping.”
Matheson’s stomach churned at that suggestion. He was about to say something, when Marigold drew back. “No! He wants us separated, so he can grab me.”
“I agree with the Princess,” said Matheson. When she turned and gave him a grateful smile, he stepped forward, confidence swelling in his chest. “Uncle Hertz believes Berrin is her only mate. While the High Sheriff is bungling Berrin’s wing clipping, Uncle will spirit her away because he wants to become mate with her.”
Polaris’ face darkened. “How does he intend to do that without her consent?”
“I thought he would force me,” she said in a small voice.
“It doesn’t work like that,” said Matheson. “Otherwise there would be no need for courtships or bride prices. The strongest dragons would poach the best females and force a bond.”
“Both parties have to consent on the deepest levels before the mating bond takes place,” added Polaris.
Marigold twisted in Polaris’ arms and gave Matheson a penetrating stare. She said nothing, but the accusation in her eyes told him that she had worked out why he had not participated the first few times they’d had sex. Matheson’s cheeks heated. He had believed that Marigold would not want him again if the mating had taken place successfully. It had been petty of him to have made her mount him while he lay back and did nothing, but he could never have been sure that she would ever want him afterward.
When she turned back to Polaris, his shoulders relaxed. Her hands smoothed down the lapels of his jacket. “I’m not separating myself from you, and we’re not going to waste time arguing about it. Governor Hertz will put a necklace of leccan on Berrin, so he won’t be able to heal the cuts of the ceremonial knife. He’ll bleed to death.”
Matheson spotted the bag of tools behind the open doors of the stables. He strode past the trio and snatched the bag. Then he held out his hand to Marigold. “We’re going now.”
“Right.” She gave him a sharp nod, let go of Polaris, and climbed on his back. Matheson turned to his brother. “Are you coming?”
Polaris growled. “We were arguing about where to pu
t Marigold during this heist, and not whether I would participate!”
“I’m going with you, and that’s final. Things always go wrong when we’re separated, and I still have the poisoned ring.”
“That’s the one Mother used,” said Matheson. “It’s enchanted to stay on the wearer’s finger regardless of their form.”
Polaris shook his head. “The doctor’s home is fortified with magic—”
“Your uncle has forensic wizards doing his bidding. Half a dozen of them together could break through the wards of one doctor.”
Matheson nodded. “Uncle Hertz is one step ahead of us. Nanny, you’re due to give Berrin his dinner in a few hours, aren’t you?”
“That’s right,” she replied.
“And when you find him missing from his cell, you’ll rush back home and set the alarm.”
She nodded.
“That’s when Uncle will try to take Marigold away. He wants us preoccupied with finding Berrin.”
Polaris folded his arms. “Has it occurred to you that Uncle could be setting a trap for us?”
Matheson shook his head. “I can’t see how. He doesn’t know that Marigold can travel to Berrin’s side.”
“Uncle is no fool.”
Marigold let out a frustrated huff. “So what if it’s a trap? He is going to have Berrin killed! At least if the three of us are together, we’d be able to watch each other’s backs.”
“Seven of us,” said Nanny. “If we’re to rescue Berrin, we will have to do it as a family.”
Polaris sighed. “Fine, but you’re staying with me, Marigold.”
She jumped down from Matheson’s back and threw her arms around Polaris, peppering his face with kisses. Matheson smiled, relieved at the lack of jealousy. The old him would have bristled at the sight of Marigold so close to his brothers, but now it warmed his heart to see everyone united.
Marigold stretched out a slender arm. “Come on, Matheson.”
He grinned and joined her. Perhaps Marigold’s love would be the bridge that would bring him closer to Berrin and Polaris.
Twenty minutes later, the six of them approached Tormentum Square through a side alley. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, staining the Tower of Torment the color of blood-oranges and casting an ominous shade over its small, arched windows. No guards patrolled the perimeter of the building, which Matheson assumed was partly due to a lack of spies and traitors in residence. He was thankful it was still Festival Week, because the appearance of seven armed intruders approaching would have looked suspicious.
“Which tower?” asked Polaris.
Matheson turned to Marigold, who tilted her head to the side. “I didn’t think to ask, because I thought there would only be one.”
“Not to worry,” said Matheson. “You’ll be able to ask him.”
Nanny turned to him and Polaris, her face grim. “While you’re making final checks, Grison and I will approach the main gates with Buckley and Giles as back-up. When we’ve incapacitated the guards, you three can go in and rescue Master Berrin.”
Matheson smirked. Nanny’s friendship with Ella’s mother and Dr. Squamatus had led her to be knowledgeable on elixirs and herbal medicines for dragons and humans. She and Grison had even brewed the fire accelerant they had used to burn down the Papaver Palace and its surrounding poppy fields.
When they disappeared around the corner, he placed his hand on Marigold’s shoulder. “Can you check Berrin’s cell?”
She leaned on him and closed her eyes. He had seen her in this state before, but it didn’t stop him from marveling at being in the presence of a spirit dragon. Her grandmother’s sorceress blood had to be what made her powers strong enough to emulate the legendary feats of the extinct race of dragons.
“Do you ever wonder about the identity of her father?” he asked his brother.
Polaris stared down at Marigold. “He had to be a dragon worthy of Princess Gilda. I doubt that he is still alive, as a high-profile she-dragon would never have been left alone to die in an orphanage.”
“All historical records of her whereabouts after the great earthquake have vanished.”
“Sabotage?” asked Polaris.
“Or very powerful magic. There is more to the situation than it would appear.”
Polaris raised a shoulder. “When we have vanquished Uncle Hertz and his conspirators, we will be able to devote more resources into Marigold’s background.”
“If that’s even her name.”
“According to the records of the Priory Orphanage, it’s the name her mother gave the nuns.”
Marigold’s lungs expanded, indicating that her consciousness had returned. Matheson gave her a gentle squeeze. “What did you see?”
“Berrin said he’s in the Earth Tower. Governor Hertz left ten minutes ago for the Bordello Bagnio. He took four wizards with him, so there are two left to guard Berrin.”
Matheson clenched his teeth. “And the High Sheriff?”
“He’s slumped over his whetstone.” Buckley emerged from around the corner, scowling. “There’s something wrong with that dragon. When I threw a vial of sleep elixir into his window, I found massive diagrams strewn about the place.”
“What sort?” Matheson leaned close.
Buckley’s eyes slid to Marigold. “It was of a sensitive matter, Young Master.”
“I’ll bet it was castration pictures.”
He pressed his lips together. “It was.”
Marigold clenched her fists. “He probably wanted to do it to someone all along!”
Matheson reached to wrap his arm around her, but Polaris got there first.
“It doesn’t matter.” Polaris pressed a kiss on her temple. “He’s incapacitated, and we’re minutes away from rescuing Berrin.”
“Right,” said Nanny, coming around the corner, the sleeves of her dress rolled up. “We’ve checked all the grounds and downstairs windows. Every guard we have found is now under the influence of an elixir. The dragons will awaken in thirty minutes, and the wizards fifty. You won’t need to worry about the human guards for another couple of hours.”
“Thank you, Nanny.” Matheson grinned. She and her sons were his greatest allies, and when Festival Week ended, he would do something nice for them in front of the other servants. Not only had they cut short their holiday to share their condolences, but they had been invaluable on two dangerous missions.
“You four should return home,” said Polaris. “We do not want you implicated if anything should go wrong.” Her lips parted, as though she wanted to protest, but Polaris raised a hand. “You are our last line of defense. If a third party arrests us for breaking into the tower, we will rely on you to contact Father’s advocate when he returns to Igneous.”
Nanny glared at Polaris, seeming ready to argue, but Matheson added, “It’s true. In the event that Uncle Hertz tries to take control of the estate again, we will need you on the inside, sabotaging his efforts.”
“Very well,” she said, her voice tight. She handed Marigold half a dozen vials of elixirs. “These will work against wizards. Let’s go home, boys, and leave the dangerous work to the young mistress and masters.”
They waited until Nanny and her sons had entered their carriage before moving. Then Matheson turned to Polaris. “Let’s give ourselves twenty minutes to break into the basement and grab Berrin. Should we transform now?”
“Wait until we reach an obstacle,” replied Polaris.
Matheson nodded, and the three of them ran across the courtyard to the Earth Tower. Two dragon guards lay slumped by the double doors, and Matheson sent Nanny a silent word of thanks. He took a ring of keys from the guard’s belt and unlocked the arched, wooden door. A cool gust of air wafted over them as it opened into a stone corridor.
“Berrin said there was a secret entrance on the left wall, about a foot after the entrance,” said Marigold.
Matheson swept his hands over the cool, damp stone. “It looks solid enough to me.”
“I feel a slight draft.” Polaris held up palms over the wall without touching it and then stopped at a point close to the flagstone floor. “Right here. Stand back.”
Matheson stepped out of the way, pulling Marigold with him. This couldn’t be a trap. Berrin was too well hidden, and Uncle Hertz would have made it easier for them to find their youngest brother and not moved him to a completely different building.
Polaris gave one of the stone bricks a sharp kick. Matheson stiffened, expecting the entire wall to crumble, but the brick merely fell through to the other side, letting in a gust of even cooler air. He grinned. “Come here and transform your fingers. We’re going to claw out the mortar and make a hole large enough to squeeze through.”
“What should I do?” asked Marigold from his side.
“Stand behind us and keep watch.”
Matheson smiled at her disgruntled expression and ushered her forward. “If someone comes, we’ll need you to alert us.”
She shrugged and stepped around Polaris. Matheson knelt by his brother and scraped the mortar. “There has to be a faster way to do this.”
“There is,” muttered Polaris, without looking up from the large, stone bricks. “But if we damage one of the oldest buildings in Igneous, we’ll be lucky if they give us a painless beheading.”
Matheson blanched and set to work. His claws were significantly sturdier, now that he had achieved his maturity. If only he hadn’t been so antagonistic towards Marigold. He would have had this strength the last time he confronted Uncle Hertz and might have been able to kill the filthy old dragon.
About five minutes later, Polaris crawled through the hole they’d carved from the wall. After scraping the bricks aside, he poked his head through and stuck out his hand. “Marigold, you’re with me.”
She knelt and crawled through, the fabric of her breeches stretching over that plump little backside. A bolt of arousal shot straight to his groin, and he shook his head. There would be plenty of time later to ogle at his mate. If she was amenable, he would pummel her dragon-style. He shook off his lustful thoughts and crawled after her into a cold, dark space.